Delusions are how to make it in New York City media

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - Jake Sasseville is more entertainer than entrepreneur and his bipolar behavior with Inc Magazine editor Donna Fenn showed Ball State University media students how  failure can turn to success in the crazy  world of television.

 More than 300 journalism, telecommunications and other media students got class credit listening to Sasseville and Fenn act more like a vaudeville comedy routine than teach a lesson of entrepreneurship.

 "You have to fail to succeed," said Sasseville, a 20 something television host and producer.

 His latest show, "Delusions of Grandeur" is a study in how to lie, cheat and steal your way into making a television show by making promises you cannot keep.

 As some students thought Sasseville was a tool and crazy, constantly talking and telling television tales, while Fenn playing the adult and telling students about how to take an idea and turn it into a business.

 Given the economy, Fenn believed anybody could go into business, and become an entrepreneur  with only a few dollars, And Sasseville encouraged students to focus and find themselves in getting an idea or product to market and sell.

 Sasseville talked about how he filed bankruptcy and bottomed out of television production almost after he got started. The wild stories of guerrilla marketing and sales technics and crazy comedy scripts did interest the dozens of media students, although some doubted how someone obviously bipolar could even succeed let alone survive in the fast paced television market.

 Fenn kept insisting Salleville was crazy based on conversations with some of his friends and continued to play off his jokes and antics.

 Both have written books, and Sasseville's "Slightly Famous" work is no more than his antics as a television host and producer. His late night show, Late Night Republic, lasted briefly on a handful of stations and was marketed to teenagers and 20 somethings.

 Fenn has a bit more experience, being an Associated Press reporter assigned  in Saudi Arabia besides writing her own books on GenY entrepreneurship and other business trends.She also is another New York media product.

 The routine was part of the David Letterman Distinguished Professional Lectures that has a variety of media, communication and information experts. Looking at the audience filled with iPad, iPhone and lap top users, plenty of new media ideas were likely fostered by Sasseville and Fenn.